christmas

The Bollox

do you celebrate christmas?

monkeyfudge

I don't have any great problem with it as it's pretty much completely commercial at this stage and can be a bit of fun... No different to Halloween really.

Can't say I do much celebration of it though... other than probably going out to parties a lot more...

Hivemind187

Yep. Great excuse for a few days off and guzzling turkey and red wine.

I also celebrate Walpurgisnacht and the various soltice and exquinox of the year. Why? Because I want to have a knees up, not for any pseudo religious purposes.

pH

Excellent - it's that time of year again - for questions like "why would an atheist celebrate Christmas?"

I think I'll call it:

ZOMG U DON'T BELIEVE IN TEH BABY JESUS - HOW DARE U EAT TURKEY AND HAVE A DAY OFF?

Last year if I remember a fairly spirited defence against this idiocy was put up, so to reiterate:

An end of year celebration long pre-dates Christianity, for example Saturnia, Yule etc ( see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas )

All of the secular things we (atheists?) do at Christmas have little or nothing to do with Christianity - turkeys, presents, trees, Santa Claus, fairy lights etc.

Yes we call it 'Christmas', I call the 7th and 8th months of the year July and August - it doesn't mean I think Julius and Augustus were Gods!

So the fact that one of the worlds religions somehow appropriated this celebration and want to pretend it was when their Messiah was born - why should we let that get in the way of our party? Peace and goodwill to all men - I have no ill feeling towards Christians for their deception at this time of year - I think they should be free to celebrate Christmas with the rest of us.

MrJoeSoap

I do love Christmas, but I've no problem working both the 25th and 26th for triple pay! Money-hungry atheist that I am.

Fanny Cradock

Hivemind187 wrote: »

Yep. Great excuse for a few days off and guzzling turkey and red wine.

Far out!

You guzzle Turkey? Do you blend that before hand like a 'meat shake' or just masticate and then guzzle?

Dave!

MrJoeSoap wrote: »

I do love Christmas, but I've no problem working both the 25th and 26th for triple pay! Money-hungry atheist that I am.

You're what's wrong with the world! :mad:

I'll be celebrating Christmas. Nowadays the holiday transcends religious beliefs, and it is in effect a "family" holiday. It's certainly born of our religious past, but today it is simply an excuse to get all the family together, give presents, eat, drink, and be merry.

I'll also be displaying a crib, going to mass, and putting up a Christmas tree (a Protestant tradition AFAIK). Why? Because it's traditional. I use religious expressions, read religious poetry, listen to religious music (a significant amount more than most Christians I know, actually -- Jesus Christ Superstar rocks, the Dublin Gospel Choir, Kirk Franklin), enjoy religious paintings......... etc

There's no need to chuck the baby out with the bath-water when it comes to religion. There's some good things spawned from it, and Christmas is one of them. Of course, people were having days of celebration and merriment long before Christianity came along, but the fact that we get the time off work, etc., is a result of the presence of the Christian faith in Ireland.

Having said all that, if Christmas was no longer recognised by employers/the state, I wouldn't be too fussed -- as long as it's replaced by a similar, secular day of celebration/family.

I can see many religious people will be throwing out arguments about if Christianity wasn't recognised then we'd just be working throughout the year and have no time for family. Why? Could we not have non-religious days of celebration? Bloody hell, we should have more.....

MrJoeSoap

DaveMcG wrote: »

You're what's wrong with the world! :mad:

I'm with customer support though, I'll be helping all those fools with phone problems on Xmas Day. I'd do it for free...

Dave!

Bless you

Asiaprod

Most definitly will celebrate christmas, tree, food and presents. Christmas day also just happens to be my wedding aniversary:D

AngryHippie

Yeah, in fairness Christmas is class, Turkey, Plum Pud, Lazin round the house, spendin time with the family, and having the time off work to do it all, It makes all the crappy weather tolerable, even though it has been turned into a commercial nightmare. Just try and make any gifts meaningful and spend some time with your favorite people and you'll enjoy it...

Zillah

I thoroughly enjoy my pagan mid-winter festival.

Sir Digby Chicken Caesar

I celebrate any day there are roast potatoes

biko

Yes, I might even go to midnight mass for the craic.

condra

Im still debating wether or not to say "Happy Holiday" this year, just to be a git and spark some interesting conversation.

FWIW, I love Christmas. Its about family really innit, especially the kids. I have 2 nieces now and its great to see kids enjoy Christmas.

New Years is different.. It's hit or miss. If Im not having a really super awesome time, Ill just burst into drunken tears of nostalgia.

lostexpectation

bah humbug

donaghs

As stated earlier mid-Winter festivals like the Solstice pre-date Christianity. so that is enough of a reason to have a party. That said, I love the traditional Christmas, the time off work, catching up with family and friends, the food and drink, etc.

I think its worth keeping the Christian aspect of it alive as well, as its part of our history.

Beruthiel

Mordeth wrote: »

I celebrate any day there are roast potatoes

Followed by wine.
Bailys for breakfast.
Wine.
Prezzies.
Wine.
Doing nothing but lazing around the house.
Wine.
What's not to celebrate?

cavedave

I am appalled at the increasing Christianisation of Yule.
I tried to go out and buy my traditional pagan tree, holly and mistletoe last year to find that the price had been driven up by Christians. I mean really this parthenogenesis cult even steals babies with orbs. The Roman God Sol Invictus whose feast day was December 25th. He was also drawn with an orb around his head the same way Christ is portrayed. And on his feast day gifts were exchanged.

Are none of my beliefs sacred to these plagiarists?

Pompey Magnus

cavedave wrote: »

I am appalled at the increasing Christianisation of Yule.
I tried to go out and buy my traditional pagan tree, holly and mistletoe last year to find that the price had been driven up by Christians. I mean really this parthenogenesis cult even steals babies with orbs. The Roman God Sol Invictus whose feast day was December 25th. He was also drawn with an orb around his head the same way Christ is portrayed. And on his feast day gifts were exchanged.

Are none of my beliefs sacred to these plagiarists?

Praise be to Sol Invictus, PIVS FELIX INVICTVS.

Nevyn

Zillah wrote: »

I thoroughly enjoy my pagan mid-winter festival.

Me too!

Dades

The Bollox wrote: »

do you celebrate christmas?

Hmmm. This thread should really be in the "Consumer" forum on Boards...

Can't think of another forum here that suits it more.

toiletduck

Of course most atheists will celebrate on that day, I certainly will. To me it's just a day to spend with the family.

Suff

It's a pagan festival welcoming mid-winter after all....but still I love it
I don't celebrate it religiously, I dont believe its Christ's birthday or go to mass since I'm a Muslim however I love the whole experience of it, the shopping (do it early!), getting presents, Cooking, watching National Lampoons Christmas vacation is a traditional event in our house for the past 10 years! and there's something about Christmas eve that I really enjoy...just relaxing, you know.

Asiaprod

Beruthiel wrote: »

Followed by wine.
Bailys for breakfast.
Wine.
Prezzies.
Wine.
Doing nothing but lazing around the house.
Wine.
What's not to celebrate?

Its Xmas, add more Wines.

stereoroid

The Bollox wrote: »

do you celebrate christmas?

They tell me I've declared War on Christmas. News to me, but O'Reilly and co only see what they want to see. :rolleyes:

lostexpectation

yeah lack of sun!

Beruthiel

Asiaprod wrote: »

Its Xmas, add more Wines.

I was going to, but then I thought people might think I'm an alco....

monkeyfudge

It's always nice when someone starts a thread with a one line question and then contributes nothing to it..

Really puts you in the xmas spirit.

Asiaprod

Beruthiel wrote: »

I was going to, but then I thought people might think I'm an alco....

No way:eek: Happy festive spirit to all

Dave!

monkeyfudge wrote: »

It's always nice when someone starts a thread with a one line question and then contributes nothing to it..

Really puts you in the xmas spirit.

No you shut up

monkeyfudge

I might be doing a radio slot on christmas day actually... anyone got any subversive requests?

The Bollox

Do you say "happy christmas" or "merry christmas" to anyone around this time of year? I don't mean when woking and are obliged to, I mean when in the pub with a few mates would you raise your glass and say either quotes or salute anyone who said them? considiring you are basically saying "enjoy the day Jesus Christ was born" despite not believing it

monkeyfudge

I don't think I make a habbit of saying it personally.

And make sure my office is nice and secular... the cards we send out from the office always read 'season's greetings'

Nevyn

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I might be doing a radio slot on christmas day actually... anyone got any subversive requests?

Anything from scary solstice...

http://www.cthulhulives.org/Solstice/

Fallen Seraph

Thaedydal wrote: »

Anything from scary solstice...

http://www.cthulhulives.org/Solstice/

Lol.

Reminds me much of these two chick tract parodies.

The Bollox wrote:

considiring you are basically saying "enjoy the day Jesus Christ was born" despite not believing it

I think you're quite missing the whole "Actually, it's a pagan festival." rebuttal that was made.

PDN

The Bollox wrote: »

Do you say "happy christmas" or "merry christmas" to anyone around this time of year? I don't mean when woking and are obliged to, I mean when in the pub with a few mates would you raise your glass and say either quotes or salute anyone who said them? considiring you are basically saying "enjoy the day Jesus Christ was born" despite not believing it

It's not any different to saying, "See you on Thursday" which is really saying, "I'll see you on Thor's special day" despite not believing in Thor.

Hivemind187

Fanny Cradock wrote: »

Far out!

You guzzle Turkey? Do you blend that before hand like a 'meat shake' or just masticate and then guzzle?

Depends on my mood and access to quality home-liquidising equipment.

Hivemind187

monkeyfudge wrote: »

I might be doing a radio slot on christmas day actually... anyone got any subversive requests?

Any chance of hearing "Santa Clause is on the dole" by the Spitting Image guys ... y'now, in honour of all of us who have lost out jobs coming upto Christmas?

lostexpectation

im not too keen on referring to it as pagan festival either, I know pagan means non-religious too partly but It still associates with worship of gods, it simply an end of year thing...

stereoroid

This ChriFSMas, my dinner will be: Spaghetti & Meat Balls!

Nevyn

Pagan does not mean non religous it means non Abrahamic.

MagicMarker

Is there anyone else here who doesn't eat turkey on xmas? We always have rolled pork&stuffing, Mmmmm:)

Wreck

Lots of nice food, time of work to spend with friends and family, presents and booze -what more could you want.

Beruthiel wrote: »

Bailys for breakfast.

I'm so trying this this year:D

Nevyn

[nsfw]http://web.archive.org/web/20070129010550/e-sheep.com/Saturnalia/

But highly recamended.

condra

hmm interesting.

Nevyn

Personally I found it funny the fundies on both sides.

Wacker

MagicMarker wrote: »

Is there anyone else here who doesn't eat turkey on xmas? We always have rolled pork&stuffing, Mmmmm:)

*Raises hand* We have beef wellington - a big block in fillet steak covered in mushrooms and onions and baked in pastry. It is the best stuff ever.

I love Christmas. Last year was terrible as there had been a death in the immediate family so we barely celebrated at all. This year should be better - tons of food, wine, movies and whiskey. I bought my brother an expensive bottle of Scotch which he'd better open!

No need to bring religion into the equation - no one else seems to anyway.

lostexpectation

Thaedydal wrote: »

Pagan does not mean non religous it means non Abrahamic.

I knew when I wrote you'd be along to comment:) its a byword for non-religious... it mixes pre-christian with pre-religion as we know it.

pH

Time to bring out the big guns - the bible quote!

I wonder how many Christians will be putting trees up in their house this Christmas despite direct instructions from their LORD not to?

Jeremiah 10 wrote:

1 Hear what the LORD says to you, O house of Israel. 2 This is what the LORD says:
"Do not learn the ways of the nations
or be terrified by signs in the sky,
though the nations are terrified by them.

3 For the customs of the peoples are worthless;
they cut a tree out of the forest,
and a craftsman shapes it with his chisel.

4 They adorn it with silver and gold;
they fasten it with hammer and nails
so it will not totter.

Nevyn

lostexpectation wrote: »

I knew when I wrote you'd be along to comment:) its a byword for non-religious... it mixes pre-christian with pre-religion as we know it.

I actually take offense at you saying that I am non religious.
My religion is infact post christianity.